Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Matthew 2 and Psalm 2

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. (Matthew 2:12 NLT)

Devotional Thoughts

It seems to me there is a clear contrast in Matthew 2.

On the one hand are the Magi. In the normal course of events they would have returned to their home country the same way they came. They had first-hand experience of the dangers and difficulties on that route, and had recently safely navigated it. Returning by that route was the usual, safe, predictable, common-sense thing to do. But then, out of the blue, one or all of them received a warning from God in a dream. Taking the great risk of violent reprisals, they disobeyed Herod’s direct order (2:8), changed their plans, and did not go back to tell Herod where Jesus was. Instead, they returned to their own country by another route.

On the other hand are the Roman soldiers who executed Herod’s order to exterminate all the boys in and around Bethlehem two years old and under. God might not have spoken to any of them in a dream (we’re not told), but God created every human being with a conscience. And surely even the most battle-hardened soldier could recognise that the order to rip every infant boy in that village from his mothers’ arms and execute him was an order to be disobeyed. Yet they resolutely ignored the warning bells of their consciences and carried out Herod’s genocidal will.

These two groups of men stand in direct contrast as examples. The good example of the Magi’s sensitivity to God’s prompting is to be followed. The horrifying example of the soldiers who ignored their consciences is to be avoided. But, before we stand in judgment, let’s acknowledge how often we have all ignored the warning bells of our consciences and taken the easy route. And let’s commit to learning the lessons of our past failures and theirs.

Life Application

Be alert. Ask the Lord to heighten your conscience and your alertness to His warnings. Keep an eye out for those moments when a little flicker of conscience is warning you that doing what comes naturally (or what seems like the normal thing to do) will cause you to stumble into a course of action you will later come to regret. Let’s obey our God-given early warning systems.

Serve the Lord with reverent fear (Psalm 2:11 NLT)